Look!: Swap-O-Rama-Rama

It started as an event designed to be an alternative to consumerism, but Wendy Tremayne's Swap-O-Rama-Rama now takes place in more than 40 cities both in the US and around the world - that is a photo from a recent Boston swap, above. Part clothing swap, and part DIY workshop, we cannot imagine a better idea for recycling clothes. The premise is so simple...

...just bring a bag of unwanted clothing, and then take as much (or as little) as you want or need, from the collective pile. Below, a Milwaukee, WI swap.

Sewing stations are set up, along with volunteer artists, to help you alter and remake what you find. Our favorite part is that you can then relabel your clothes to cover up the existing brand and indicate that your new clothing was recycled.

These events are going on in lots of places, but if there's not one near you, Wendy offers help and support in starting your own swap, in which case all you need to do is find a group of like-minded folks with wallet fatigue.